10 • ISSUE May 2010
Volume 16, No. 8
STARK MUSEUM TO HOST TULIP ROUNDTABLE MAY 18 The Stark Museum of Art will host “The Tulip Allure in Art and Horticulture,” a roundtable discussion of the book “The Tulip,” May 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m. A panel will lead discussion of the bestseller “The Tulip” by Anna Pavord. Topics include connections between art, botany, economics, cultural history and social issues. Participants are encouraged to read the book in advance. Light refreshments will be provided for this International Museums Day event, presented in collaboration with Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center and the exhibition “Blooms: Floral Art in the Stark Collections.” The program is free. The panel will be moderated by Andy Coughlan, editor of ISSUE arts magazine, exhibiting artist and assistant director of student publications at Lamar University. The panelists include Holly Hanson, volunteer coordinator/tour coordinator at Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center; Scott Hasty, master florist and owner of J. Scott’s Aflorist; Ann Hoffpauir, artist; Elena Ivanova, chief educator at the Stark Museum of Art;
and Steven J. Zani, chair of English and modern languages at Lamar University. The panel will invite audience participation. The discussion will be held in the museum lobby, followed by viewing of exhibition “Blooms: Floral Art in the Stark Collections.” “The Tulip” is available for purchase at the stores of the Stark Museum of Art and Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. The roundtable discussion is scheduled to celebrate International Museum Day, observed internationally to recognize that museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples, Ivanova said. The theme for 2010 is “Museums and Social Harmony” and acknowledges that museums are in position to address the urgent need for safeguarding cultural diversity and bio-diversity as the common heritage of humanity. The museum is located at 712 Green Ave. in Orange. For more information, call 409-886-2787, or visit www.starkmuseum.org.
BLOOMS from page 7 Flower,” an 1802 engraving from a book compiled by Robert John Thornton. Painted by Peter Henderson and engraved by Richard Cooper the younger, the piece is ornate and fascinating. As befits its purpose of scientific study, the artist has managed to provide us with a front, back and side view of the plant, while still retaining a striking sense of composition. Sitting in front of columns, the viewer sees buildings in the background. This is more than mere illustration. The artist provides the viewer a sense of the surroundings. However, if images of a more scientific nature are what you are looking for, there are plenty of beautiful examples in the show. There is something impressive in the thought of the lonely, early botanist/explorer, pad in hand, recording each
TORCHY from page 6 important to her. Fund raisers, art world events, music showcases — all with the greatest enthusiasm. She is a trooper. Never say die! So it was, she made it through and life was sweet. Dinners out, trips to New Orleans, Houston, San Miguel, Galveston and plans for more of the same all the time; life was precious to us both and we could not waste any of it. For the next four years, life was wonderful. Now, when I say wonderful I’m not talking about a life without incident or pain. There were business problems, fire, deaths of parents and pets, but none of that dampened
Robert John Thornton (1768-1837), author, Phillip Reingale (1749-1833), artist TULIPS, 1799-1807, mezzotint, aquatint, stipple and line engraving on paper, color and hand-coloring, 21 7/8 x 17 ¾ inches. In the Temple of Flora Stark Museum of Art, Orange, Texas, 11.66.1
new species he encounters. Many of the pieces, such as Leonhart Fuchs’ 1542 woodcut “Geranium,” have a simple elegance that is most endearing. While the artists were mostly male, Henriette Antoinette Vincent’s 1814 “Narcissus,” the black and white version, is equal to any. The Russian-born artist Nicolai Fechin, a Stark Museum favorite, is also represented in the show with four paintings; “Taos, Flowers in Henry Sarp’s Yard,” “Indian Corn,” “Daffodils” and “Cactus.” The pieces vary slightly in style with “Daffodils” exhibiting a bright and free execution, and “Cactus” bordering on the abstract. Georgia O’Keefe’s “Not From My Garden” features a heliconia, an almost science fictiontype flower with sharp edges. Many of O’Keefe’s flowers have been said to symbolize female genitalia. In that context, the painting is rather disturbing.
her verve for life. Although she loved life, she had no fear of death. Paula would tell me from time to time that she knew she was not from this plane, that her place was in another dimension. God was her friend and it was a special, personal relationship. With this second bout of cancer she knew it would be tough, but she also knew she would make it through. We never stopped making plans for future travel and dinners out. We never gave in to the possibility of death. Even at the end when she was hurting and tired and so, so sick she held fast to the possibility of recovery. In her last days she couldn’t speak, but I talked to her and somehow I know she heard me say “I love you” and “the dogs
John Henry Sharp is well represented with 18 soft-focus paintings forming a bulk of the exhibition. Orange native Kate Brown Giggs earns her place with the delicately-rendered “Bowl of Bluebonnets.” One of the most impressive pieces is from a book by Pierre Joseph Redouté. Engraved by Amable Paul Coutan, “Roses” is displayed in black and white, and in a hand-colored version. It says much about the artist’s touch that each is equally as beautiful as the other. For those of us who seem to kill even an artificial potted plant, “Blooms” is the perfect place to stop and smell — at least see — the roses. The Stark Museum of Art is located at 712 Green Ave. in Orange. The museum is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 409-886-2787, or visit www.starkmuseum.org.
are doing fine” and it seemed to ease her stress just a little. Although Paula is physically not with me any more, she will always be with me in my heart. She was my example of Christ on Earth. Always forgiving, giving, loving without restraint and following the Golden Rule of “do unto others”. She is my friend, confidant, consoler, confessor and soul mate and even at death we do not part. “She learned to love him even before he thought it was even possible, so he didn’t have a chance to hide & mess it up. And while it was scary at times, mainly he could not imagine the world without her” (from a piece she gave me some years ago by Brian Andreas).
